For hosting the third edition of BioAsia 2006 in Hyderabad, the Andhra Pradesh government has wooed bigwigs such as Sun Microsystems, LifeScience Analytics, ISB, Locuz, The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), Ernst & Young, IBM, and many more to partner for the forthcoming biotech event starting from February 9-11, 2006.

One of the unique features of BioAsia 2006 is that business leaders from life science companies will have access to a business intelligence system to connect with bioscience institutions and people. “For the first time in Asia, Indian companies will get access to partnering opportunities. We have signed an agreement with Technology Vision Group LLC. With this deal, participants can avail the facility of the portal, biopartnering.com, to prepare for private meetings for possible joint ventures before attending the conference,” A. Ashok, director of biotechnology, Andhra Pradesh government said.

“Biopartnering will offer opportunity to contact, connect and collaborate under one roof,” he said. The event proposes to build global alliances, showcase products, network with industry leaders, research scientists and the student community.

About 70 companies have registered for the business forum of which 28 companies are outside India, he added. There are about 60 exhibitors, 500 conference delegates, 50 international speakers and 15,000 visitors.

This edition will also have people from Finland, Greece, Holland, Belgium, New Zealand, etc that is also happening for the first time in this annual event, Mr Ashok added.

Further, industry secretaries from six states - Gujarat, Uttaranchal, Orissa, West Bengal, Maharashtra besides Andhra Pradesh are expected to come together for development of bioclusters in the country.

(www.financialexpress.com)